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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Shiite Apologetics Question Thirty-five Why is Imamate considered higher in rank than Prophethood ? Answer: It would first be necessary to clarify the three concepts of Prophethood, Divine Mission and Imamate as expressed in the Quran and the narrations so as to answer the question and find out why Imamate is considered superior to the other two ranks.

The Rank of Prophethood The word nabi Prophet is derived from naba prophecy, literary: giving important tiding; so the Prophet means the herald of significant news or one who brings news of an event. In the Quranic culture, it refers to someone who receives the divine revelation in various manners, a reporter who, as Gods representative, reports from God, without the mediation of a human being.[1] A Prophets duty is thus limited to receiving the Revelation and conveying it to people.

In the words of the Quran: So Allah raised Prophets as bearers of good news and as warners. 2: 213 [1] Al-Rasa'il al-`Asharah by Shaykh al-Tusi, p. 11. The Divine Mission The Messenger, as understood within the context of the Divine Revelation, refers to those Prophets who, in addition to receiving the Revelation and reporting in the capacity of Gods representatives, are given the responsibility of propagating the Mission they have been charged with.

The holy Quran says: but if you turn back, then know that a clear deliverance of the message is (incumbent) on Our apostle. 5:92. Therefore, the Divine Mission risalah is a position endowed onto a nabi, a Prophet.

That is, Prophethood, nubuwwat and Divine Mission, risalah are two concepts signifying the particularities of the Prophets who have received the Divine Revelation, are bearers of news, and therefore are nabis, and at the same time Messengers, rasuls since they have the duty to propagate it.

When we take the above explanations together, we can conclude that as long as they function within the bounds set by nubuwwah and risalah, the Prophets are mere guides who announce what is lawful and what is not, introduce to people the paths leading to prosperity, and have no responsibility other than conveying the news they have received from God, or propagating the mission they have been charged with.

The Status of Imamate The Quran views the Divine Leadership, the Imamate, something different from the other two positions: Imamate is a position with a wider range of authority for managing the society and leading the people.